Differential effects of intranasal oxytocin on sexual experiences and partner interactions in couples

Behnia, Behnoush; Heinrichs, Markus; Bergmann, Wiebke; Jung, Stefanie; Germann, Janine; Schedlowski, Manfred; Hartmann, Uwe; Krüger, Tillmann H.C.

doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2014.01.009

Cited by 79 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…In a natural setting, several partner-related activities such as massage (Morhenn et al, 2012) or coitus (Carmichael et al, 1994) elicit the release of OXT, and a decrease in OXT effectiveness could explain why HC users report reduced sexual functioning (Wallwiener et al, 2010) and increased sexual jealousy (Geary et al, 2001). In fact, OXT has been found to increase the intensity of orgasm and contentment after copulation (Behnia et al, 2014) and to reduce arousal induced by the imagination of sexual infidelity (Preckel et al, 2015). Peripheral estradiol and progesterone levels were found to be altered in women using HC and therefore a potential mechanism could be related to the direct binding of progesterone to OXTRs, thereby inhibiting OXTR functioning (Grazzini et al, 1998).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hormonal contraceptives suppress oxytocin-induced brain reward responses to the partner’s face

Scheele¹,

Plota²,

Stoffel‐Wagner

et al. 2015

Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience

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The hypothalamic peptide oxytocin (OXT) has been identified as a key modulator of pair-bonding in men, but its effects in women are still elusive. Moreover, there is substantial evidence that hormonal contraception (HC) influences partner preferences and sexual satisfaction, which constitute core domains of OXT function. We thus hypothesized that OXT effects on partner-related behavioral and neural responses could be significantly altered in women using HC. In this functional magnetic resonance imaging study involving 40 pair-bonded women, 21 of whom were using HC, we investigated whether a 24-IU nasal dose of OXT would modulate brain reward responses evoked by the romantic partner's face relative to the faces of familiar and unfamiliar people. Treatment with OXT increased the perceived attractiveness of the partner relative to other men, which was paralleled by elevated responses in reward-associated regions, including the nucleus accumbens. These effects of OXT were absent in women using HC. Our results confirm and extend previous findings in men that OXT interacts with the brain reward system to reinforce partner value representations, indicating a common OXT-dependent mechanism underlying partner attraction in both sexes. This mechanism may be disturbed in women using HC, suggesting that gonadal steroids could alter partner-specific OXT effects.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hormonal contraceptives suppress oxytocin-induced brain reward responses to the partner’s face

Scheele¹,

Plota²,

Stoffel‐Wagner

et al. 2015

Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience

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“…It is quite interesting that treatment with OT did not increase partner-directed sexual behavior, as the OT system has been implicated in female sexual receptivity (Cushing and Carter, 2000), as well as sexual arousal and orgasm (Behnia et al, 2014) during interactions between pair-mates. There did appear to be a ceiling effect in sexual solicitation latency toward the partner, suggesting that, relative to vehicle, it would be nearly impossible to observe an increase in latency to open-mouth display under OTA treatment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxytocin facilitates fidelity in well-established marmoset pairs by reducing sociosexual behavior toward opposite-sex strangers

Cavanaugh

Mustoe

Taylor

et al. 2014

Psychoneuroendocrinology

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Summary Behavioral strategies that facilitate the maintenance of social bonds are critical for the preservation of high-quality social relationships. Central oxytocin (OT) activity modulates the behavioral features of socially monogamous relationships in a number of mammalian species (including marmoset monkeys), and plays a vital role in the behavioral maintenance of long-term social relationships. Two distinct variants of OT have been identified in some New World primates (including marmosets; Lee et al., 2011). The marmoset variant of the oxytocin ligand (Pro8-OT) is structurally distinct from the consensus mammalian variant of the oxytocin ligand (Leu8-OT), due to a proline substitution at the 8th amino-acid position. The goal of the present study was to determine if treating marmosets with Pro8-OT, relative to treatments with Leu8-OT, control saline, or an OT antagonist, had modulatory effects on the behavioral maintenance of long-term social relationships in marmosets. Treatment with the Pro8 variant, but not the Leu8 variant, of OT facilitated fidelity with a long-term partner by reducing time spent in close proximity with an opposite-sex stranger. However, this facilitative effect of Pro8-OT on proximity behavior manifested itself differently in male and female marmosets, such that females preferred to interact socially with their partner rather than a stranger when treated with Pro8-OT, while males spent less time in close proximity with both their partner and a stranger when treated with Pro8-OT. Furthermore, treatment with Pro8-OT, but not Leu8-OT, significantly delayed the expression of sexual solicitation behavior toward an opposite-sex stranger in both male and female marmosets, but had no effect on sociosexual behavior directed toward a long-term partner. These results suggest that the OT system is highly involved in reducing fidelity-threatening behaviors in well-established marmoset pairs, and that the effects were only produced by species-specific OT ligands.

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“…Interestingly, men under OXT were faster to detect the valence of positive stimuli conceptually associated with sexuality, bonding, and social relationships (84). Notably, OXT IN further augmented epinephrine plasma responses to sexual activity in men (85) and increased the intensity of orgasm and contentment following sexual intercourse in heterosexual couples (86). By contrast, an early study using a 32-IU dose of OXT IN failed to detect any behavioral or neural effects in 21 men who observed their female partner receiving painful stimulation (87).…”

Section: Oxytocin and Romantic Attachmentmentioning

confidence: 97%

Dissecting the Role of Oxytocin in the Formation and Loss of Social Relationships

Hurlemann

Scheele

2016

Biological Psychiatry

100

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Current concepts of human sociality highlight a fundamental role of the hypothalamic peptide oxytocin (OXT) in the formation and maintenance of social relationships. However, emerging evidence indicates that OXT does not invariably facilitate social bonding but also produces nonprosocial effects that may have evolved to promote offspring survival. From a mechanistic perspective, we hypothesize that OXT modulates interoceptive signals and self-referential processing, which may result in various social outcomes depending on context- and person-dependent variables such as early-life adversity. Based on this theoretical framework, we discuss translational implications for clinical trials and identify open questions for future research. Specifically, we propose that disrupted OXT signaling due to the loss of affectionate bonds may contribute to emotional disequilibrium and confer elevated risk for the onset of stress-related disorders.

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Differential effects of intranasal oxytocin on sexual experiences and partner interactions in couples

Cited by 79 publications

References 49 publications

Hormonal contraceptives suppress oxytocin-induced brain reward responses to the partner’s face

Hormonal contraceptives suppress oxytocin-induced brain reward responses to the partner’s face

Oxytocin facilitates fidelity in well-established marmoset pairs by reducing sociosexual behavior toward opposite-sex strangers

Dissecting the Role of Oxytocin in the Formation and Loss of Social Relationships

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